The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-08-10

On Sunday afternoon. July gath. there
were gathered in our prison chapel. about
fifty OF our Swedish brethren. to listen to
an able discourse given in their native tongue
by Miss Amanda E. Gustafson, of st. Paul
MINI. highly talented young lady, engaged
in home missionary work. Miss GustafSOn
spoke in the swedish tongue, and by the
tender and impressive language in which
she presented the word of God to her listen
ers melted many stubborn hearts to tears,
and left within their breasts newborn
hope of nobler and better life to come.
Miss GustafsOn opened the services. by sing
ing. unaided. beautiful and appropriate
hymn, in the english language. which was
Immediately followed by like hymn in
her native tongue, and after most fervant
and plaintive prayer to God beseeching His
blessing and guidance. upon the words she
was about to speak, and to beStOw upon her
hearers, a portion of His great love and mer
cy, she proceeded to address them. in SEN
timent as follows:
BROTHER's.
As was passing through the
prison. yesterday, from shop to shop, and seeing
you at your several lahors, became deeply inn
pressed with the thought that there must be some
of my own cOuntrymen among the many forms
which met my sight, and God put the thought in
to my heart to seek permission to speak to them
in their native tongue of His great and boundless
love, and through the kindly courtesy of your
kind hearted officials. bless God. til at my humble
request was most readily granted, and pray that
God will aid me to speak a word of comfort to
oyt ,Tnrfn hnart fpin nr,A
brothers, let your hearts be opened to the blessed
truths of Gods holy word; remember that the
blood of our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ cleans
eth from all sim God loves you: He gave His on
ly begotten Son, to die for you, that whatsoever
believed i'll him. should not perish but have ever
lasting life. Jesus Christ came into the world to
and redeem those who were lost in sin;
and it matters not what may be your lot in this
life, even these great prison bolts and bars can
not shut out from you the love, and mercy of our
Heavenly Father; prison walls cannot be made so
strong prison cell dark, that God cannot
enter with the light of His divine love and mercy.
and bring comfort light and hope to the s:n-bur-
dened soul of all who believe in Him.
Miss Gustofson continued her discourse
for over an hour, dwelling upon the birth,
life and death of our Saviour, and appeal
ing with all the power and earneStnesS of
her christian heart and nature, to those in
her presence to give their hearts to God,
dwelling at considerable length, upon the
lives of his disciples, who were scourged
and cast into prison for His names sake,
but whose faith in their divine Master re-
manned firm and true; she quoted many
passages of scripture in able and unqueston
able support of her discourse; closing, by
assuring her hearers that they possessed her
deepest sympathies in their hour of sorrow
and trouble. and lifting her voice to God in
plaintive and earnest appeal for their sal
walton. For the benefit of those who heard
Miss GustOfsOn speak, and who may wish
to become more intimately acquainted with
her high christian character. and self-sacri-
tising purposes, we CLEAN from the fruitful
fields of her past life the following golden
sheaves of TRUTH
Miss Amanda Elizebeth Gustatson was born
near Finspong, Sweden, in the year 1868,
who with her parents emigrated to this
country in the year 1880: and settled near
the little hamlet of Olstat, Burnett County,
Wis, where they became engaged in the
quiet and peaceful calling of farm life: 1t
was here that the high christian character
which Miss GustafsOn possesses began to
develOpe. 1t was here, when but mere
child, she began her noble mission of christ.
ian love and charity, by teaching the word
of God to her little playmates; it was here
in her quiet home. alone, unaided and
and unguided, save by her own conceptions
sine began her studies of the scriptures:
without the advantages of even a common
school education. to assist her, with no
knowledge OF the english language, stran-
ger in strange land. this little Swedish
girl, pushed bravely and unfalteringly
upward in her self-chosen, and self-sacritic-
ing labOrs of Christian love, until today,